Universal Studios Orlando

The president of Universal Studios' Orlando theme park operations was fired in a reorganization of the company's largest theme park property. Felix Mussenden had been president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando for two years. Universal spokesman Jim Canfield said Mussenden was leaving the company "by mutual agreement to pursue other interests." Canfield said he didn't know Mussenden's immediate plans.

Universal Studios Hollywood offers rides based on movies about rampaging dinosaurs, robot aliens, a 30-foot-tall gorilla and a green ogre with a sidekick donkey. Next up: a ride based on a movie about a super villain and three orphan girls. The theme park confirmed that it plans to open a ride based on the 2010 animated film "Despicable Me. " But it is too soon to release details, a spokeswoman for the park said. Universal Studio's sister park in Florida, Universal Studios Orlando, opened "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" last year.

Universal Studios Hollywood offers rides based on movies about rampaging dinosaurs, robot aliens, a 30-foot-tall gorilla and a green ogre with a sidekick donkey. Next up: a ride based on a movie about a super villain and three orphan girls. The theme park confirmed that it plans to open a ride based on the 2010 animated film "Despicable Me. " But it is too soon to release details, a spokeswoman for the park said. Universal Studio's sister park in Florida, Universal Studios Orlando, opened "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" last year.

Travelzoo has picked its top destinations for hot deals in 2012, and only one U.S. city, Orlando, Fla., made the cut. "We anticipate higher airfare prices, jaw-dropping hotel deals and an oversupply of cruise cabins," senior editor Gabe Saglie said in a statement about what the company calls its Wow Deal Destinations of 2012. "Based on our extensive market research, we predict that Costa Rica, Japan, the Mediterranean, Orlando and Thailand will offer the most outstanding deals next year.

Travelzoo has picked its top destinations for hot deals in 2012, and only one U.S. city, Orlando, Fla., made the cut. "We anticipate higher airfare prices, jaw-dropping hotel deals and an oversupply of cruise cabins," senior editor Gabe Saglie said in a statement about what the company calls its Wow Deal Destinations of 2012. "Based on our extensive market research, we predict that Costa Rica, Japan, the Mediterranean, Orlando and Thailand will offer the most outstanding deals next year.

Universal Studios Orlando will feature eight haunted mazes, six scare zones and two live shows at Halloween Horror Nights 21. > Photos: Halloween Horror Nights 21 at Universal Studios Orlando Universal Orlando's Horror Nights has been voted the best Halloween theme park event for the past four consecutive years by Amusement Today, an industry trade publication. Lady Luck, the icon for the Florida theme park's 2011 event, will transform each night from a tempting seductress to a bloodthirsty beast.

Universal Studios Orlando on Thursday announced plans to retheme its Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast attraction with a new " Despicable Me " story line, and to digitally refresh the Amazing Adventures ofSpider-Man motion-simulator ride for 2012. With no new attractions set for 2011, Universal continues to ride the "Wizarding World" wave of Pottermania, which has helped drive up attendance at the tandemFlorida theme parks by an astonishing 68% so far this year.

After defeating Voldemort and his Death Eaters in seven bestselling books and eight hit movies, Harry Potter is taking on perhaps his greatest challenge yet: boosting the Los Angeles economy. Universal Studios on Tuesday took the wraps off plans to build a Southern California version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which drove a 68% increase in attendance at its Orlando theme park during the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2010. Ron Meyer, Universal's president, said his company would spend "several hundred million dollars" to create the attraction, which is expected to include a re-creation of Hogwarts Castle along with Potter-themed rides, shops and restaurants.

We still have more questions than answers about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter more than a year after plans were announced for a West Coast version of the themed land at Universal Studios Hollywood. Photos: Top 10 Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides and attractions With much of the what, where and when of the Wizarding World project still a mystery, let's start with what we do know before working our way to what we still don't know. Where will the new land be located?

The suspect in a series of crimes that included rape, kidnapping and one slaying was captured after a 15-mile car chase. James Sears Hartsock, 25, was spotted in the small town of Holly Hill driving a car stolen from a woman who was abducted last week and held captive for four days, police said. The woman was freed late Sunday near downtown Orlando. Hartsock also was wanted in connection with last week's bludgeoning death of a man and the rape of a woman near Universal Studios in Orlando.

After defeating Voldemort and his Death Eaters in seven bestselling books and eight hit movies, Harry Potter is taking on perhaps his greatest challenge yet: boosting the Los Angeles economy. Universal Studios on Tuesday took the wraps off plans to build a Southern California version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which drove a 68% increase in attendance at its Orlando theme park during the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2010. Ron Meyer, Universal's president, said his company would spend "several hundred million dollars" to create the attraction, which is expected to include a re-creation of Hogwarts Castle along with Potter-themed rides, shops and restaurants.

Universal Studios Orlando will feature eight haunted mazes, six scare zones and two live shows at Halloween Horror Nights 21. > Photos: Halloween Horror Nights 21 at Universal Studios Orlando Universal Orlando's Horror Nights has been voted the best Halloween theme park event for the past four consecutive years by Amusement Today, an industry trade publication. Lady Luck, the icon for the Florida theme park's 2011 event, will transform each night from a tempting seductress to a bloodthirsty beast.

Universal Studios Orlando on Thursday announced plans to retheme its Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast attraction with a new " Despicable Me " story line, and to digitally refresh the Amazing Adventures ofSpider-Man motion-simulator ride for 2012. With no new attractions set for 2011, Universal continues to ride the "Wizarding World" wave of Pottermania, which has helped drive up attendance at the tandemFlorida theme parks by an astonishing 68% so far this year.

The president of Universal Studios' Orlando theme park operations was fired in a reorganization of the company's largest theme park property. Felix Mussenden had been president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando for two years. Universal spokesman Jim Canfield said Mussenden was leaving the company "by mutual agreement to pursue other interests." Canfield said he didn't know Mussenden's immediate plans.

Playing the "big game" is mostly a fantasy for football fans. Only muscle-bound bruisers need apply. But the NFL is sponsoring a football challenge for the average fan--men, women or children--with the NFL Air-It-Out competition, making stops in 19 cities around the country, including two in Southern California. There are team events (reservations required) and individual attractions (open free to anyone).

As we slip into October, I decided to assemble my first-ever Fantasy Halloween League of the Top 13 haunted mazes at theme parks around the world. Think of the Top 13 list as a nightmare fantastic park with the most demented, disturbing and disgusting collection of haunted attractions ever gathered in one virtual place. Or my definition of a dream vacation if I had a bottomless budget and unlimited vacation time to jet around the world to the best and most bizarre haunts.